The ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran has intensified, prompting President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to frame the situation in religious terms. During a White House press conference on April 6, Hegseth compared the rescue of a downed F-15E pilot to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, noting the pilot's survival during a timeline that coincided with Good Friday. Trump echoed this sentiment, suggesting the conflict has divine backing and expressing his discontent with the violence. This religious framing has faced backlash, particularly from Pope Leo XIV, who has condemned the use of Christianity to justify war and violence. He emphasized that the Christian mission should not be distorted by desires for domination. Hegseth's comments reflect a broader trend among some conservative Christians in the US, who intertwine nationalism with their faith, viewing their political struggles as a 'holy war' to reclaim a Christian identity in America.